Joey Janela is set to make his in-ring return next month, and his second announced appearance will see him facing off with his physical therapist—and former WCW star—’Crowbar’ Chris Ford.
Janela versus Crowbar will take place at RescueMania’s Never Forgotten event on April 14th in Rutherford, NJ, one week after Janela appears at his own ‘Joey Janela’s Spring Break III’ events. Ford and Janela have worked together in and outside of the ring, first squaring off in 2014 after Ford made a return to wrestling at a (then-Jersey Championship Wrestling) event.
Ford explained, “Joey was a guy who I had heard a lot about, who had a great reputation for working hard and really giving it his all to entertain his fans. The promoter of JCW—Ricky O—described Joey as ‘Just like you in the ol’ Devon Storm days.’ I told Ricky that if I was going to come back on that night, I wanted to enjoy myself, I wanted it to be special and I wanted to be able to really “GO”. I told Ricky that I wanted to work with this Joey Janela I had heard so much about. I think the match was really special and I sent the crowd home happy that night.”
Janela’s knee injury last Fall caused him to seek a rehabilitation assignment after surgery, and he began rehabbing at Raising the Bar Rehabilitation & Fitness, the physical therapy office of Christopher Ford, PT – aka WCW’s Crowbar. The two shared a patient / physical therapist relationship, and will now re-enter the ring as opponents.
After sharing a wrestling locker room being wrestling opponents a few times since their initial encounter, Janela and Crowbar’s relationship would now become a relationship of patient and Physical Therapist. Crowbar had the following to say about the match, praising Janela’s level of talent:
“Joey’s wrestling future is extremely bright and unlimited right now and I look forward to being a small step on a long road of wrestling greatness ahead of him.
In 2014, I was 41, in OK shape after being away from a while with 2 shot knees and we tore the house down. Joey’s knee is fixed, I’m in great shape with 2 new knees – so who knows what we’re capable of! My goal as a wrestler and as the guy who rehabbed him is to have a great match that fans will be talking about – while safely transitioning Joey back into the game. I can do that. To my knowledge a scenario like this has never and likely will never occur again in this crazy business – so it’s pretty cool.”
Tickets can be purchased on the Facebook page : RESCUE MANIA WRESTLING
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